41st Cape Coral Art Festival - Artist/Crafter Application

2026 Artist/Crafter Exhibitor Application

41st Annual Cape Coral Art Festival and Business Showcase
Downtown Cape Coral on Cape Coral Parkway between Del Prado Blvd. S and SE 10th Place

New Amenities” This Year!  

Event Details:
Dates: January 10-11, 2026
Location:  Cape Coral, Florida on Cape Coral Parkway 
Time:  Sat.10-5 pm and Sun. 10-4 pm

Application Deadline: October 5, 2025

Application Fee: $35

Booth Fees

10 x 11 and 10 x 13 Single Regular and Premier Area Booth Fee: $450.00

10 x 16.5 Booth and a Half $675.00

 
10 x 22 Double Booth Fee:  $900.00

The Cape Coral Art Festival invites you to apply to be one of 240 exceptional artists at our 2026 Outdoor street event, rated 5th best in the nation by Sunshine Artists 2020. Cape Coral has been named as one of the fastest growing cities in America. In 2025, our festival had an attendance of over 100,000 visitors to the South Cape area in Cape Coral, Florida. The two-day event gives patrons who are eager to purchase Art for their new homes, the opportunity to meet and purchase art from exhibiting artists and craftspeople. Our goal is to provide the public and our selected exhibitors an experience of unparalleled quality. Proceeds from the Festival helps the Rotary Club of Cape Coral fulfill its mission of serving our community through the award of grants to organizations needing assistance “Service above Self”. View our programs at www.capecoralrotary.org.

This January, we will be hosting our 41st annual two-day public outdoor event and a month long virtual or online selling opportunity. Our virtual event will be online January 2rd to January 31st at www.capecoralartfestival.com.

Our public outdoor event on January 10th and 11th, 2026, will give patrons the opportunity to meet and purchase from artists and fine crafters. We will feature a virtual platform to provide our artists and businesses exposure to the world. The event is free to the public. 

New this year!

Artist Patron Purchase Award Program

Sponsor contributions will be spent to fund an Artist Patron Program.  So far this year, we have a commitment for $10,000 that will be used for $100 gift certificates to encourage patron shopping and increase Artist and Fine Crafter sales.  Our goal is to secure at least $20,000 for Patron Gift Certificates.

 
Business Showcase

The Marketplace area has been changed to the Business Showcase and will feature businesses that are a resource for new residents who need services.

Premier Artists

New last year and continued in 2026, there will be a special area to recognize Premier Artists. Artists who score the highest jury scores will be invited to display in our “Premier Artists Area.”  

Artist Amenities

This year we will again have a special area to Celebrate and Recognize “Premier Artists.”   We are organizing the “Premier Artist” area to recognize the fine artists who are contributing so much to make a positive impact on our world.   Artists who score the highest jury scores will be invited to display in our exclusive “Premier Artists Area.”  This area will accommodate the 72 highest jury scoring Artists.

The benefits of being invited to participate in our “Premier Artist Area” include:

• Booth location near lodging accommodations, Holiday Inn Express;
• Being first to reserve reduced lodging package at the Holiday Inn Express;
• Lunch and Water delivered to your booth on Saturday and Sunday;
• Larger Booth Space: 13-foot-wide single booth spaces;
• Dedicated Artist bathrooms; and 
• Convenient access to food located in an “off the street” food court

Amenities for all Fine Crafters and Artists include:

•       Artist Patron program to increase sales;
•       11-foot single Booth spaces located on the street;
•       Enhanced WiFi service provided to prevent usage overload problems;
•       Security:  24 Hours
•       Complimentary Continental Breakfast served on Saturday and Sunday mornings;
•       Drive-up access to your booth for set-up, teardown plus Saturday and Sunday mornings until 9 am;
•       Artist information packets will be delivered to booths by 9:00 am on Saturday morning;
•       The festival will close at 4 pm on Sunday to allow an additional daylight for Booth teardown;
•       Free Convenient off-street parking for Artists’ Vehicles and RVs;
•       $10,000 in cash awards;
•       Award Presentation Breakfast on Sunday morning before the Festival opens;
•       Water and Snacks delivered to booths;
•       Booth and ½ space: 10’ x 16.5’ in lieu of a standard 11’ Single or 22’ Double booth space; and
•       Dedicated group of Rotarian volunteers to assist with Booth set-up, tear-down and booth sitting.

The Cape Coral Art Festival has artist friendly procedures in place to ensure that your weekend is pleasant and profitable. Our Artist Hospitality team will be there to greet and direct you to your booth location for Set Up and will be available to assist you if needed.

FESTIVAL DEADLINES:

October 5, 2025: Artist /Fine Crafter Applications due by 5:00 pm

September 8 - October 15, 2025: Jury Selection

October 6 - October 20, 2025: Invitation of Acceptance; Notification emailed to accepted, waitlisted, and not invited artists

November 7, 2025: Deadline of Acceptance by Artists to Event Committee 

December 1, 2025: Booth payment deadline

December 12, 2025: Artists who have paid for their booth will be notified of their booth assignment which will be based upon Artist submitted booth location requests in the special requests section.  Artists who would like to change their assigned booth location are to notify Christina Redman via email at cgredman@gmail.com.

December 15, 2025: Deadline for Artists to cancel participation with no forfeiture of booth fee.

December 15, 2025: Artist Proof of Insurance due. Send proof of insurance to cgredman@gmail.com

December 30, 2025: Deadline to order a rental tent from Creative Events in Fort Myers (239) 768-6393. If a tent is needed for our festival, mention our event to indicate where you need a tent. The Artist must supply their own side walls.

January 9, 2025: Artist Festival Set-up

January 10-11, 2026:  41st Cape Coral Art Festival and Business Showcase, which is located in South “Downtown” Cape Coral Parkway.

ACCEPTED CATEGORIES AND MEDIA DEFINITIONS:
 
Media categories are used by the Cape Coral Arts Festival as a tool for organizing images into logical, related groups for jury review. While it is the Festival’s principal objective to present a balanced show that equitably showcases both 1) works of fine art and craft and 2) diversity among media, please note that the Festival establishes no quota or entitlement by media category. All work must be original and signed handcrafted work. The artist signature defines and establishes artist ownership, and this guarantees the accuracy of the description of the works presented and the authenticity of the work as the creation of their own hands.
 
Ceramics - All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in category. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, the artist must sign each piece. Machine made and mass-produced work is not permitted. Embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted. 

Digital Art- Original work utilizing computer software solely to create, design, and produce work.  Work must be printed on archival quality paper and signed by the Artist.  Exhibitor must disclose and display both their creative and printing processes in their booth during the festival. Work generated by or with the help of Artificial Intelligence is prohibited.

Drawing & Pastels- Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayons, etc. or from fluid media including inks and washes applied by pen or brush.
 
Fiber and Fiber Wearables- All work crafted from fibers, including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry and paper making as well as original designed and hand produced wearable art. No commercially machine-tooled, machine-screened patterns or miscellaneous forms of mass production are permitted, including manufactured seams. NO factory produced items, regardless of additional modifications or enhancements may be exhibited. Embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted. Hardware such as zippers and buttons may be incorporated but must clearly play a subordinate role in the finished piece.
 
Glass- Glass works that are functional or decorative by design and are kiln-formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, fusing, staining, molding, or casting. Works may be etched or engraved.  Embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted. No forms of mass production are permitted.
 
Graphics/Printmaking - Printed works in which the artist hand- manipulated the plates, stones, or screens. Prints must be signed and numbered as a limited edition. Print makers are required to disclose their creative and printing process.
 
Jewelry- All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic, or other materials must be entered in this category.  No commercial casts, molds, or production studio work is allowed. Limited use of pre-made material such as beads** or small ornamental items is permitted. No more than 10% of a piece may consist of commercial findings including hardware like clasps and earring backs. The major impact of the piece must be the original work of the artist. ** Beads must be made by the artist. There are only one exceptions to this rule: 1) If the beads are not made by the artist, they must clearly play a subordinate role in the finished piece and 2) The requirement that beads must be made by the artist does not apply in the technique known as bead weaving, however commercial bead weaving kits are not permitted.
 
Leather- Work where the primary material is leather including belts, handbags, wearables, and sculpture work. All factory-produced items are prohibited regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist.
 
Metal- Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry work crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
 
2D Mixed Media- Two-Dimensional work in which the primary intention is to enhance and create depth with the union of two or more mediums in in one one piece. Works should include two of the following paint, pencil, watercolor, photography, printmaking, or drawing.

3D Mixed Media - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production.  Works should include more than two of the following clay work, fiber, glass, metal, wood or any other 3D objects. 3D mixed media must include dimension as a main feature. Works majorly produced from found objects must exhibit quality design and artistry, and the final product must be an entirely new piece. Work must be standing or suitable for hanging.

Painting/ Oils or Acrylics- Works created in Oils and Acrylics are in this category.  Creation of still life, portrait, landscape, abstract or other image on a flat surface such as canvas with oil and/acrylic paint suitable for hanging.

Painting/ Watercolor or Tempera- Works created in watercolor or tempura are in this category.  Creation of still life, portrait, landscape, abstract or other image on a flat surface such as canvas with oil and/acrylic paint suitable for hanging.

Photography and Digital Photography- The process of capturing images that begins with a camera, then printing the images by chemical or digital means onto a surface, This category includes traditional film photography and digital photography. All pieces must be signed, numbered and dated in limited editions of no more than 250. Prints must have been processed by the artist and printed under the artist’s direct supervision. In addition, to the above, the surface on which the photographs are printed must be identified in the description of technique (paper, aluminum, wood, fabric, canvas, etc.). Photographers are required to disclose their creative and printing processes.
 
Sculpture- Three dimensional completely original work created and produced by the artist in any medium.
 
Wood- Original works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved. Embellished manufactured wood items and mass production are not permitted.
 
AWARDS:
 
All Artists will be judged during the festival on Saturday for Awards by our respected judges. All Artists are eligible to receive an award. Each award winner will receive a ribbon, a cash award and an invitation to bypass the jury process in 2026. Award winners from the previous year still need to apply and will be required to pay application and booth fees, but acceptance will be automatic. The Festival Committee reserves the right to not declare a winner in a category that only has one or two artists and the judge deems them not worthy of an award.

Best In Show:  $2,000.00
Best in EACH Category: $500
Poster Artist Award: The booth fee of our selected poster artist for the Art Festival will be waived. The Poster Artist must agree to hand sign 100 posters. 

Jury Process:
 
A blind jury will select artists for invitation between September 8 – October 1, 2025.  Up to 220 artists will be invited through the jury process. Award winning artists from the 2026 Cape Coral Arts festival will automatically be invited to participate. Festival jury will be conducted by a panel of experienced artists and community professionals and is based solely upon the quality of the work as illustrated in the submitted digital images and submitted statement of material/technique. It is in the best interest of the artist to submit high quality pictures that depict representative samples of the art that will be sold during the festival.  It is the responsibility of the Artist/ Fine Crafter to convey with their booth a very professional appearance. Booths that do not look professional will not be invited to participate.  Accepted artists will be the top/highest scores in their respective category/medium. Cape Coral Arts Festival may limit the number of Artists accepted in some categories in order to present a balanced show. Decisions of the jury are final. Artist scores will not be released. The Festival Director has the option to fill all vacancies from the Festival waitlist based upon jury scores. The jury process is closed. 

Artist Images

A total of 5 images must be submitted by each Artist:

4 images of representative work

1 Image of Booth

1 Image of Artist working in Studio

Eventeny Virtual

Things to know about our “Optional Participation” Eventeny Virtual event: Inclusion in the virtual event is free to live exhibitors. 

1. There are no risks when creating a business shop page. You can add videos, pictures, products, etc. or you can go as simple as your logo and a link to your website.
2. Convenience for buyers. Buyers can purchase from multiple vendors with one transaction which has been shown to increase the likelihood visitors will purchase. 78% of shoppers on Eventeny purchase from multiple vendors and artists.
3. Promotion through the event and ranking shops on Google via SEO meta-tagging.
4. You will have a personal booth page for your work.

If you’re connected to multiple virtual events on Eventeny, you only have to do the bulk of the work once and tailor as needed for other shows. You won’t need to create separate booth pages per event. See the helpful tips on capecoralartfestival.com

Artist Set-Up:

Important Artist set-up information will be emailed to all participating artists on January 5, 2026. 

Friday evening booth set-up on January 9, 2026, after closure of Cape Coral Parkway, at approximately 7:00 pm. Self Check-in for Artists, our hospitality team will deliver information packets with official name badges to you when you are setting up your booth or to your booth on Saturday morning by 9 am if we cannot find you on Friday evening.

Drive up access to your booth location during set up hours on Friday evening and Saturday morning as well as booth replenishment on Sunday morning. All Exhibitor Vehicles must be off Cape Coral Parkway, in the Festival Area, by 9 am Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Booth Payment:

All booths will be charged upon approval on December 1, 2025, using the credit card number on file with Eventeny.

Artists, with cards that are declined, and booth charges are not paid, may be rejected as an Exhibitor from the Art Festival.

Refunds:

Full refunds of Booth fees (minus processing fees) will be granted on or before December 15, 2025.  All cancellations after December 16th will be non-refundable.

The application fee or jury fee will not be refunded to the artist.  Refunds will not be given if the festival is cancelled due to inclement weather or other acts of God over which the sponsors have no control.

INSURANCE:

All exhibiting Artists must carry an insurance policy that names the City of Cape Coral, the Cape Coral Rotary Foundation, Inc. and the Cape Coral Rotary Club, Inc.  as additional liability insured in the amount of $1,000,000.00. If you do not have an adequate insurance policy for our Festival, one can be obtained for a fee starting at $49.  Information about obtaining insurance from ACT Insurance Company for the Festival will be sent to Invited Artists.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:
 
1. The Cape Coral Arts Festival is open to all Artists. Artwork must be original in design and an artist must display and sell only in the media category in which the work has been accepted.  Work displayed and sold must be consistent with work represented by jury images. Artists are prohibited from selling non-original promotional items (i.e., posters, postcards, note cards, calendars, tee shirts, etc.) at the Festival. Only fine craftspeople and artists displaying their own original work may participate. No agents or dealers. Photo I.D. is required. This show is for original handcrafted work. Final interpretation of commercial status will be made by the Committee. The Committee has the right to expel, without refund, any Exhibitor who breaks these rules during the Art Festival.

2. All applicants MUST submit at least a total of six high quality images in the application: four (4) images of work representing the art that will be presented for sale at our Festival, one (1) image of their booth, and at least (1) image of the artist producing their work in their studio.

3.  All booths must have a neat and professional appearance.  

4.   Applications by collaborating artists: If two or more people collaborate to produce original work, each person must be identified on the Application. Collaborations are to be true artistic collaboration rather than business collaboration. No work by apprentices or employees will be accepted. Collaborating exhibitors may apply as a single entry only. No more than two (2) exhibitors working as a team may collaborate in the design and creation of any artwork submitted with the application or chosen to display at the Festival. Assistants, employees, office or other support staff are NOT considered to be collaborators. If an artist has a helper who assists the exhibitor with frames, setup, selling, paperwork, etc., but she/he is NOT producing the work under his/her own or team name, this person is NOT a collaborator, though he or she may certainly assist at the Festival. If accepted, only one (1) booth will be issued, and only finished work that is the result of the collaborative process may be displayed and sold. BOTH collaborating exhibitors are required to sign in and present photo identification prior to setting up.  BOTH exhibitors must be present during Festival hours in the booth during the entire two-day Festival, with the exception of short breaks.
 
5.   The following are prohibited:

 A. Buy-Sell (see below)
 B. Copies of original artwork not done by the exhibitor and works reproduced or copied from works of masters, advertisements, commercial or widely circulated photographs or offset prints.
C. Work purchased from an outside source for resale
D. Production artwork in any category
E. Work produced with kits, castings from commercial molds, patterns, plans or commercial means is not permitted.
F.  Traditional crafts such as soaps, oils, candles, scented oils and homemade food items
G. Mass-produced note cards, commercial books, etc. not reproduced from the exhibitor’s original work.
H.  Artwork not in the category in which the artist applied and was accepted
I.   Unsigned artwork or work not using archival materials
J.  Alcohol or sound systems
K. Generators that are powered by a combustion engine are prohibited. Only battery powered generators are allowed.
L. Commercial agents, dealers, manufacturers, or buy-sell vendors are not eligible to enter nor can they be proxies for artists.
 
6.   The selection of an artist/craftsperson is an indication of his/her commitment to exhibit. When an artist has been approved by jury for participation in the festival, the Artist must pay for the booth plus tax with a credit card through Zapp by the payment deadline date. NO REFUNDS will be made for withdrawal after the December 15, 2025 Cancellation deadline.  NO REFUNDS shall be made for inclement weather or other acts of God over which the Sponsors have no control, and the risk and/or loss from such event shall be borne by the Exhibitor.
 
7.    Exhibitors’ work displayed and sold during the show must Match the quality and balance of the images submitted to the event jury. An artist is not permitted to submit images presenting complex and detailed artwork but come to our festival with a large quantity of simple work, it must be presented in the same proportion as presented in the jury images. Small work can be an important and essential sale item for an artist, therefore, an artist may display up to 15% of small work as the rest of the artist’s application. The pictures of the Artist’s work submitted to the jury must match (in quality, workmanship, and design) the work that will be sold by the artist during the festival. The exhibition or sale of anything else by the Exhibitor is prohibited.  The Artist that was accepted to exhibit must be in the booth at all times except for short breaks.  No sharing of space, subletting or selling is permitted except when two people work together as accepted collaborators. 
 
8.    If your craft is the building of musical instruments, they must be sold (not DVD, CD or other media forms of the music).  As a courtesy to other exhibitors, any music played in your booth must not be audible outside your booth or you will be asked to lower the volume.  Failure to do so will result in your being asked to leave.

9.   Each Exhibitor must comply with all pertinent State of Florida sales tax regulations.
 
10.  Official Exhibitor I.D. badges will be issued and must be worn at all times by the Exhibitor. Each Exhibitor will be provided with and must display the 8 1/2” x 11” white judges card with Exhibitor’s name, category and home city

11.  All Exhibitors must check-in reporting to their designated parkway entrance location between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 or between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan.10, 2025. Reporting as present is REQUIRED prior to beginning setup. Failure to check in by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday January 10th will result in loss of your space and your fee forfeited.
 
12.  Displays must be set up and ready for Judging by 9am on Saturday and to sell by 10:00am daily.  No booth may be dismantled prior to the 4:00 p.m. Sunday closing. Displays must be staffed at all times by the Exhibitor or Festival volunteer. Exhibitors must furnish their own tents and displays. Tents and Displays must be strong enough and weighed down by enough 40 pound weights on each leg to withstand winds and crowds. Exhibitors may not use stakes. Exhibitors are responsible for damages caused by these tents and displays.
 
13.  All Exhibitors must park their vehicles in designated artist parking areas. Vehicles must be off the Parkway by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings and by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening.
 
14.  All artists must be in their booth and have their booths ready for judging by 9 am Saturday morning on January 11th.  Judges will base all awards on the overall quality of all work shown.
 
15. Acceptance to the Cape Coral Arts Festival is non-transferable. Only artwork of the accepted artist may be displayed.
 
16. Staff will inspect booths on-site to assure compliance of the Rules and reserves the exclusive right to interpret and enforce the Rules. In any dispute, the decision of the Festival Director shall prevail. Failure to comply with the rules may result in the artist’s removal from the festival without a refund and the right to exhibit in future events will be jeopardized.
 
17. All Artists are required to display an Artist Statement including a photograph of the artist with their home city and state on the street facing side of their booth during the festival.  All Artists must also have their judging sheet prominently displayed in their booth.
 
18. Reproductions must be clearly identified as such. Original art must occupy at least 75% of the artist’s space. Reproductions must be signed editions of no more than 250, hand pulled by the artist.  Framed reproductions may be displayed on one wall of the booth. Unframed reproductions must be displayed in browse bins and not obstruct patron flow.
 
19. Buy-Sell/Production is Prohibited
 
Buy-Sellers have become a scourge on Art Festivals.  These people have become increasingly clever in their applications and often show documentation that they are the artist or craftsperson. This makes it very difficult to prove. We wish to do everything we can to deter buy-sell at the Cape Coral Arts & Marketplace.  We will have a special committee devoted to researching each application upon receipt. If you are determined to be a Buy-Sell/Production exhibitor by the committee, you will be immediately expelled from the Festival without refund.  If you are a Buy-Sell/Production exhibitor, save your $35 dollars and don’t apply.

 Please don’t apply if you:

1.    Buy work and try to sell it as your own
2.    Have a factory or a team that makes the work under your direction
3.    You plan on having a representative staff your booth instead of the Artist.

4.    Make work from molds, kits or assemble other people's work into something else.

20.  Artists Must follow all safety requirements, including installing 40-pound weights on each leg of your tent.

21. Artists vehicles must be parked in designated artist lots, all other lots are reserved for public parking.

22.  Artists are required have a valid liability insurance policy that names Cape Coral Rotary Foundation, Inc., the Cape Coral Rotary Club, Inc., and the City of Cape Coral as additional insured in the amount of $1,000,000 and must provide Cape Coral Art Festival with a copy of the Certificate of Insurance by December 15, 2025.

23.  Artists who are selected by the jury and invited to participate in the Cape Coral Art Festival and Business Showcase must have an updated credit card on file in their application.  All accepted artists will be charged for their booth(s) upon approval on December 1, 2025.

24.  Displaying ribbons and awards from earlier Show or other shows is Prohibited.

25.  All Artists are responsible for reporting and paying taxes on their sold items.